Baseball game



May 19, 1942.

J. s. `Romans BASEBALL GAME Filed April 18, 1941 rIIIIL GMES: ur 4 O 3.2km S: tGE

il bow fuezzm Em Slinger@ 9&0@ my@ Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES 28ans y g BASEBALL GAME James S. Rogers, Haverford, Pa. Application Ama-118, 1941, serial No. 389,108

' (o1. 27s-93) y 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to games and more particularly to means including cards for simulating the playing of a baseball game.

VSome of the objects of the present invention are` to provide instrumentalities by means 'of Vwhich the game of baseball can be simulated in the home or elsewhere; to provide means to artificially reproduce the action of a game of baseball so that the play may be interesting and exciting; to provide a card game wherein-plays such as occur in regular outdoor baseball games can be selected by the Vplayers according to their own judgment to meet 'situations arising in play and simulate the regularly played outdoor game; to provide a card baseball game wherein skill rather than chance plays a major part; to provide a card baseball game wherein objects simulating players are 'used with a replica of a baseball diamond to run bases according as plays develop, and wherein means serve as umpires `to f decide disputed plays; and to provide other improvements in a table baseball game as will hereinafter appear.

Generally considered the invention provides instrumentalities mutually adapted and coordi-l nated with each other and with a basic plan for playing a game between two contesting teams in realistic similitude to baseball as played on the baseball eld, for either two or four players;

which is played with cards or cards and other f symbols, in accordance with customary rules of baseball appropriately adapted to card play in certain respects, on a conveniently sized miniature diamond or table top or other surface serving as a diamond with the four bases properly located thereon, around which cards or other symbols representing` batters may be moved according to what bases they make; and in whichY the players make accordingto their own judgment baseball plays such as occur in regular baseball games, by means of certain of said coordinated instrumentalities in the form of play-cards for specifically designated plays held in their playing hands, without being controlled in' their judgment therein by any device or method o and through the playing hands, 'so as to replenish the playinghands always up to full playing strength, keep the players always supplied with a wide variety of plays from which to'choose,

; include all the plays commonly occurring or likely to occur in regular baseball gaines without increasing the playing hands beyond convenient size, keep'the playing hands in good balance by continued circulation of Vthe playing cards and reduce the element of luck inthe cards to about the equivalent of the 'so-'calledflucky breaks'of regular games.

By the present invention older children and adults who understand baseball can play a game with cards'in similitude to baseball, which re-V quires an understanding of baseball in order to play it, and'which permitsthe' players to yuse ltheir* baseball knowledge, judgmentand skill in a contest of realistic baseball strategy, with free opportunity for the best player to win. y

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 repre. sents a plan of a baseball diamond as arranged for play with the present invention; Fig. 2 repre 'sents a team of typical batter-cards arranged in spread positiomFig. 3 represents a group of typi-4 call play-'cards arranged in spread position to' show Asome of the many card indicia of-various plays; 4and Fig. @represents typical umpire cards' arranged in spread position. l v

Referring to the drawing one form 4of the present invention includes a board I'Il laid out with a conventional basebally diamond showing home plate I I', battersbox I2, first base I3, second base I4, third base I5, pitchers box I 6. Also shown are'representations of the players benches I1 and I8 for the respective teams; an area 2U for umpire; an area 2| for the cards to replenish cards vas played by the players; and an area 22 for the discard of players cards.

'For representing the batters in the game, each team consists vof nine objects representing nine determining plays by mere chance or fortuitous circumstances; and in which the results of plays are determined by the players according to the customary rules of baseball and their experienced judgment; with anappeal to umpireV cards or other symbols to settle disputes between them; the said instrumentalities being also mutually adapted and coordinated with each other and with said basic plan to further provide for circulating the cards lby which plays are madeto form of cards 23, numbered'consecutively from one to ninejpreferably in their batting order. Certain of these batter-cards 23 carry indicia giving characteristics of the batter represented, for example Heavy hitter, Fast runner, and the like. If desired each batter-card may have some such indicia thereon. may be one or more cards indicating a pinch hitter. The nine batter-cards representing each team, respectively, are placed face up in the bench areas I'I and I 8, respectively, the team-'first 'at bat, which may be considered the home team,

being preferablyplaced in area I8 and the otherv VIn addition vthere team in area I1. In playing the game the batters are put up to bat by placing their battercards in the batters boX I2 one at a time in their batting order. While cards are here shown as representing batters, this is only by Way of example, since broadly the invention comprehends the use of statuettes or other representations of players, which may be provided with indicia as heretofore explained.

For plays in the game, play-cards (illustrated in Fig. 3), are provided for playing hands from which the players may make plays in the game according to their own judgment; each in his proper turn to play as may be prescribed in playing rules for the game. Each play-card bears indicia directly Y designating a particular play which can be made by playingthat card,said indicia being varied on the different cards to provide a suiciently of all plays commonly occurring or likely to occur in regular outdoor gaines for realistic similitude thereto'.

The play-cards also provide means for keeping the playing hands up to full playing strength by new play-cards drawn from a pool to replace those played from the hands, and also a means by use of the played cards for new pools whenever a pool in use is exhausted of keeping the play-cards circulating between the hands, thereby largely eliminating mere luck in the cards and making it possible to include a sufficiency of plays without increasing the playing hands beyond convenient size.

The preferable number of play-cards for hands of convenient size for the Two player game is forty-two, making fourteen for each playing hand and fourteen for a rst pool; with twenty-three additional such cards for the Four player game, making sixty-five in all and thirteen for each of four vplaying hands and thirteen for a first pool.

The forty-two play-cards preferable for Well balanced hands in the Two player game, taking into account their circulation between the hands through the pool, may conveniently be described in groups as follows; a group totaling eleven cards,V consisting of nine Strike cards and two Base on ball cards, with permission in the Rules to make the latter play by merely saying Base on balls, inv order to avoid unduly enlarging the playing hands; a group totaling twelve Safe hit cards, consistingjof one Safe hit, l base to left field, two Safe hit, 1 base to center field, one "Safe hit, l base to right field, four similar Safe hits, 2 bases, one to left field, two to center field and one to right field, three similar Safe hits, 3 bases, one each to'Left, Center and Right field respectively, and one Home run, to leftl field; a group totaling five Grounder cards, consisting of two Grounden fast to shortstop, one Gmunden fast to second baseman, one Grounder, 'slow to third baseman, designated as too slow for a double play but not too slow to-catch any batter at first, and one Bunt, slow to third baseman, designated as too slow for a double play or to catch a fast runner at first; a group totaling seven Flies consisting of one Fly to shortstop, one Fly to second baseman, one Fly to third baseman, one Fly, liner to left eld, one Fly to deep left field, one Fly to deep center field, and one Fly, short to right eld; a group totaling four Foul and Error cards, consisting of one Foul, one Foul beyond catching reach, oneError, slow fumble, designated as just too slow for a double play or to catch any batter at first, and one Error, ball keeps on going which may be abbreviated Error B. K; 0., these cards being provided as a means for counter-plays by the opposing player to convert a play by his opponent into a foul or an error, since all hits of the above mentioned groups are presumed` to be fair hits and to be properly fielded, flies caught and throws made to proper bases unless counter-played into a foul or an error in proper cases as allowed by the rules of the game; and finally a group totaling three base running cards, consisting of one Caught off first and two Caught stealing second, no other cards for base running being necessary, as all other base running is left to regular baseball rules and the judgment of the players, with an appeal to .umpire cards to settle disputes.

While the foregoing number of play-cards and play designations have been specifically stated, it is to be understood that this is only by way of example as at present preferred for well balanced playing hands, but the number of play-cards and the designations of the plays may be varied without departing from the invention; `as for instance if it should be desired to 'change the playing`A balance by including a greater proportion of plays favorable to the Batter, or vice versa, so that larger or smaller scores will usually result.

A number of umpire cards v24 are provided as a means for settling disputes between the players asy to results of plays or base running.

In play they are placed face down in the umpire area 20. Each umpire card bears indicia which on certain of them appears as In Favor of Batter and on others as In Favor of Pitcher; as the player whose team is at bat is called the Batter, spelled with a capital B, and the player whose team is in the eld is called the Pitcher. Either of them may appeal to the umpire cards, each stating what he claims, when one of them, preferably the one whofirst appealed, shuiiies the umpire cards, holds them face down and lets the other player draw one which settles it in favor of the claim of one or of the other. Four umpire cards have been found to work very satisfactorily, but without departing from the invention more umpire cards may be used if desired.

From the foregoing itwill be lseen that the batters of a team at bat, represented by battercards, are put up to bat at home plate *in their batting order, plays are made by the Batter and the Pitcher in their turns to play by play-cards `from their playing hands according to their own judgment, counter-plays may be made in proper cases to convert a play into a foul or an error, new play-cards are drawn from a poo-l, the played cards being used for new pools, `and the batter-cards are moved around the bases on the play diamond or card table according tothe results of plays, with disputes settled by appeal to umpire cards, until the side is out; when the other team comes to bat andthe positions of Batter and Pitcher are reversed until that side is out. j

It is thus a game of judgment which requires an understanding of regular baseball rules and outdoor baseball, and skilful play in order to win. v The game has been tentatively named Cardball.

Without departing from the invention or changing the essential character or coordination ofthe instrumentalities provided thereby for the game, a set of playing rules consistent therewith may be prescribed for thev conduct of the game; including but not exclusively rules appropriately adapting in certain respects the regular rules of baseball to card play; rules respecting the special playing abilities and functioning of specially designated batters such as Heavy hitter, Fast runner, Pinchz' hitter (if used) etc.; rules governing particular plays and the use of particular cards such as Foul and Error cards,

Caught stealing second cards etc.; rules governing turns to play and counter-plays by Batter and Pitcher, respectively, or by partners in the Four player game; and other rules found desirable for proper and skilful playing of a well.

balanced and interesting game.

The following rules have been found to Work out well and are preferable rules of the game, but may be changed, if desired, without departing from the invention.

For convenience they are divided into I General rules, and II Particular cards and plays, both of which are stated for the Two player game but apply also to the Four player game subject to the Vthereafter stated III-Special rules for the Four player game.

I GENERAL RULES 1. Cardball is played according to the regular rules of baseball, with some adaptations to card play. 2. The cardball diamond is the playing field;

but any four cornered table may be used as a diamond, its four corners representing the bases.

3. The cardball pack of cards contains:

Two teams, the Reds and the Blues, be-

tween which the game is played; each team having 10 batters (spelled with a small b) represented by 10 batter-cards colored red and blue, respectively.

42 play-cards, for plays occurring in regular baseball games, strikes, hits, errors, fouls, etc., by which the players make plays according to their own judgement.

23 Additionall play-cards, for use in the Four-player game only; and so marked. 4 Umpire cards, to settle disputes as to results of plays. 4. Both teams are the same, each having 2 Heavy hitters, 2 Fast runners, and 1 Pinch hitter (explained in II Particular cards and plays), and both teams are numbered in the same batting order.

5. Each player captains one team, acting as managing Batter (spelled with a capital B) when his team is at bat, and as Pitcher when it i is in the field.

6. The Play-cards must be given special attention, as they provide a distinctive feature of Cardball by which the players make plays on their own judgment, and games may be won or lost by the skill and strategy with which plays are made.

7. The play-cards, described in groups, are as follows; 9 Strike cards; 2 Base on balls cards; 12 Safe hit cards for one, two and three bases., respectively, and one home run, to various parts of the field; '7 Fly cards to various parts of the field; Grounder cards to various parts of the in'eld; 2 Foul cards; 2 Error cards; 2 Caught stealing second cards; and 1 .Caught off first card.

8. The Umpire cards are, 2 In favor of batter and 2 In favor of pitcher. They settle any dispute between the players as to the result of a play Yor base running; as results of plays, in-A cluding base running are left to the'regular rules of baseball and the judgment of the players. Either player may appeal to the umpire cards, shuffle them and let the other player draw one, which settles itin favor of the claim made by the one or the other.

9. All hits of every kind are presumed to be fair hits, and to be properly fielded, iiies caught and throws made to proper bases unless the play is counter-played into a foul or an error.

l0. Either Player, lwhen it is his turn to play, may make any play for which he has a play-card in his hand, by playing it face up in front of him.

11. The Batter has the rst turn to make a play whenever his team comes to bat, after which the Pitcher has two turns in succession; and so on, one play by the Batter followed by two by the Pitcher until that side is out, when the other team comes to bat and the positions of Batter and Pitcher are reversed,'with the incoming Baty ter having the first play to start his innings at L bat. That keeps the playing in good balance.

12. Either a Batter or a Pitcher, if he holds a .Foul cardin his hand, may counter-play it on a play of a hit of any kind made by his opponent if it is a hit to any left or right portion o-f the eld, they being relatively near the side-lines, but not if it is a hit to any center portion of the field. Even a play starting as a Safe hit may be so counter-played into a foul, because the last card played on any play determines the final character of the play.

13. A. Batter, if he holds an,Error card, may counter-play it on any play in which an error could occur in a regular game.

Y 14. Counter-plays do not count as turns to play; since they are made on anv opponents play.

15. The Pitcher may play two Strike cards i together, counting as two strikes but as only one turn to play, in order to be able to vput a batter out on strikes, since he has only two turns to play in succession. 16. The Batter, if claim a base on balls by merely saying, Base on balls; and the Pitcher in his turn may give a base on balls in the same way; since there are l only two such cards in the pack, in order to keep the playing hands within convenient size.

17. After each play fresh cards aredrawn from a pool of play-cards to replace all cords played from a hand or hands; and the played cards arel put aside in a pile to be shuiiied and used as a new pool whenever a pool in use is exhausted.Y

' of `teams and of going rst or second to bat, one

toss giving both choices and also the. dealing of the play-cards.

20. Th'e Cardball diamond is preferably turned Y' it is his turn toplay, mayV on the table.

22. The play-'cards are then dealt equally to each player and a pool; making I4 to each player for playing hands and I4 to the pool.' face down.

23. The Batter of the team iirst at bat puts his first lbatter up tobat by putting his battercard up in thebatters box at home plate, and begins the game Vby makingrthe first play by putting down a play-card from his hand.

24. If his batter makes a base, the Batter moves his batter-card to that base, puts his played card to oneside to start a pile of played cards, draws a new play-cardfrom the pool and puts up his next batter at home plate. Y

V25. The Pitcher then makes two plays in succession by play-cards from his hand, and the playing proceeds in that way, one turn and two, with such occasional counter-plays as maybe made, all played cards being added to the played card pile after each play, fresh cards being drawn from'the pool to replace them and the next batter put up to bat,.until the side is out.

26. The batter-cards of'batters who make bases are moved to and around the bases accord ing to what bases they make as result's'of plays; being scored if theyv reach home.' The battercards of batters who'are out are put at the bottom of the team of batter-cards, and are re arranged in batting order whenever they have been at bat all the way around.

27. Playing is speeded and made more interesting if the following are observed:

(a) Each player-as he puts down a play-card or a counter play-card should state for the information of the other player what play he makes, and also what result of it he claims unless the result is so obvious as to need no statement.

(b) The other player, if he admits the claim, should promptly say, Admittedf or OK, or Take it (if it is a base) or words to such effect.

(c) If he questions the claim, they should settle it by brief discussion, if possible, or one or the other should promptly appeal to the umpire cards, shuiile them and let the other draw one to settle it without undulydelaying theA game.

28. Five innings constitutes a game unless otherwise agreed. Y

II PARTICULAR CARDS AND PLAYS Particular batter-cards iA Heavy hitter at bat gets one more base on a Safe hit play than the play-card calls for; that is 2 bases on a card for 1 base; 3 bases on a card for 2 bases; and a home run on a card for 3 bases; provided the Batter claims the extra base when he makes the play.

A Fast runner can steal second base safely, when he has a chance to steal it, and he cannot be put out in the attempt. Also he can make first safely on a ,Bunt, slow to third baseman.

A Pinch hitter is an eXtra batter and can be substituted at bat for any of the nine regular batters of his team at any time except in the last inning of the game according to the number of innings agreed to be played.

When he is first substituted at bat, no hit ofv any kind made by him to any part of the field can be counter-played by the Pitcher into a foul; but thereafter he remains on the team in place of the batter whom he replaced and whenever he'may `again come to Vbathe' is `merely an ordinary batter;

The Batting order may be changed by either player for his team if so agreed before the playing is begun. f

lParticular play-cards The 2 Foul cards are for different kinds of fouls. Y One is designated simply as al Foul` It is useless to counter-play on a fly, as it merely converts it into a foul fly which is presumed to bevcaught. The other is a Foul beyond catching reach, and converts a hit into a. foul, which if it is a fly cannot be caught. ,n l

The 2 Error cards are for different kinds of errors. One is an Error, slow fumble; designated as yjust too slow for a double play or to catch any batter at iirst. That gives a measure of the delay caused bythe fumble in whatever part of the field it occurs.` The other is an Er'ror, ball keeps on going, abbreviated as an Error B. K. 0., meaning `that the ball tips aelders lingers but keeps ongoing with speed'and direction not materially changed. v

Particular plays A Foul card canv be counter-played only on a hit to some left or some right portion of the field; not on any hit to any center portion.

A Caught oi iirst play may be made by a Pitcher if it is his turn to play and there is a runner on first. Hemust begiven the out unless the Batter counter-plays it into an error. Y

A Steal of second" or an attempt to steal may be claimed orally, `there being no card for it; or a Caught stealing second card may be played, as the case maybe, under the following circumstances:

(a) A Batter, with any runner on first and a runner on third when a Strike is played, may claim and must be given a safe steal of second; because a catcher very rarely throws to second under those circumstances for fear ofletting the runner in from third.

(b) A Batter, with a Fast runner on first and the other bases clear when a Strike is played, may claim and must be given a safe steal of second; as a Fast runner is designated as one who can steal second safely.

(c) A Batter, With an ordinary runner on first and the other bases clear when a Strike is played, may claim a steal of second and must be given a safer steal unless the Pitcher counter-plays a Caught stealing second card, which puts the runner` out in the attempted steal if Vthe Batter does not counter-play an Error card and make his runner safe at second.

(d) A Pitcher, when there is an ordinary runner on first and the other bases are clear, may play a Strike card and a Caught stealing second card together as one turn to play and claim that the runner attempted to steal second and was put out in the attempt. He must be given the out unless the Batter counter-plays an Error card.

III SPECIAL RULES Fon THE FOUR-PLAYER GAME as managing Batter for it during its first inning at bat and as Pitcher during its first inning in the eld, and the opposing Captain acts as first Pitcher and then as Batter for his team during that innings.

5. During the second innings their partners act as Batter and Pitcher, then Pitcher and Batter, respectively, in the same way during that innings; and so on, the partners taking similar turns in successive innings.

6. Original plays may be made only by the players who are then acting as Batter and Pitcher, respectively.

'7. Counter-plays may be made only by their respective partners not then acting as Batter or Pitcher.

That makes the partners keep on the alert, and requires good team play on their part.

8. The player who makes a play or a counterplay states what play he makes and what result of it he claims, but the Captain of the opposing team must agree to it or either Captain may appeal to the umpire cards to settle it.

9. In all other respects the Rules of the two play game apply to the Four player game.

Example of play Batter puts up his first batter, opens with a Safe hit, 2 bases to center field, moves his batter-card to second base, puts his played card to one side to start a pile of played cards, draws a new card from the pool and puts up his second batter.

Pitcher plays a Fly, to shortstop, claims batter out and runner held on second. Batter promptly says OK (not having an Error card or preferring to hold it back), removes his batter-card from home plate, and puts up his third batter. Pitcher adds his played card to the played card pile and draws a new card from the pool.

Pitcher, for his second turn, plays a Grounder, fast to shortstop, claims batter out and runner held on second. Batter admits it, removes his batter-card from home plate and puts up his fourth batter. Pitcher puts his played card in the played card pile and draws a new card from the pool.

Batter having the next turn, with two out, a runner on second and his fourth batter, a Heavy hitter up (who gets one more base on a Safe hit than the play-card calls for) makes a rash play. Without holding either of the two Foul cards in his own hand, neither one having been discarded into the played card pile, and the Pitcher very likely holding one, he plays a Safe hit, 3 bases to left eld and claims a home run for his Heavy hitter with his runner brought in from second. But Pitcher has a Foul card and counter-plays it, counting one strike against the batter. Batter and Pitcher add their played cards to the played card pile and draw new cards from the pool.

Pitcher then plays two "Strike cards and puts the batter out on strikes. Side out for no runs.

Batter has learned that if he expects to win, he had better keep his wits about him.

It will now be apparent that a new and novel game simulating a game of baseball has been devised, wherein the plays are realistically similar to the plays in regular outdoor baseball games, and wherein the plays are not determined by chance but by the judgment of the players. Thus skill is a major factor in the game, and the most skillful player stands thebest chance of winning. The introduction of umpire cards is a novel feature of the invention, since it permits the results of plays and base running to be left to the regular rules of basebal1 and the experienced judgment of the players, eliminates f the unwieldy number of cards which would otherwise be necessary to determine results and base running under the many varying circumstances of plays and runners, and furnishes a means of prompt settlement of possible disputes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a game simulating the game of baseball, a plurality of objects representing two teams of batters for association in Ysuccession with a diamond, certain of said objects lhaving indicia thereon designating certain playing characteristics of the batters thereby represented, respectively, an'd a plurality of playing cards for playing hands, each card having indicia thereon directly designating aspecic play or action of the game governing the action of said batters when at bat or in the field, respectively.

2,. In a game simulating the game of baseball, a plurality of cards representing two teams of batters for association in succession with a diamond, certain of said cards having indicia thereon designating certain playing characteristics ofthe batters thereby represented, respectively, and a plurality of playing cards for playing hands, each card having indicia thereon directly designating a specific play or action of the game governing the action of said batters when at bat or in the field, respectively.

3. In a game simulating the game of baseball, the combination of a plurality of objects representing two teams of batters, certain of said objects having indicia thereon, designating certain playing characteristics of the batters thereby represented, respectively, a plurality of playing cards for playing hands, each card having Vindicia thereon directly designating a specific play or action of the game governing the action of said batters when at bat or in the eld, respectively, and a plurality of umpire cards, each card having indicia thereon designating the umpires decision on a disputed play.

4. In a game simulating the game of baseball, the combination of a plurality of cards representing two teams of batters,v certain of said cards having indicia thereon designating certain playing characteristics of the batters thereby represented, respectively, a plurality of playing cards for playing hands, each card having indicia thereon directly designating a specific play or action of the game governing the action of said batters when at bat or in the field, respectively, and a plurality of umpire cards, each card having indicia thereon designating the umpires decision on a disputed play.

JAMES S. ROGrElt-S.v 

